Improvement in fire-proof roofs



1. HODGSION & w. H. BROWN.

Improvement in Fire-Proof Roofs.

Patented July 23, 187 2.

5 0 yard UNITED? STATES Orrion.

IMPROVEMENT IN FlRE-PROCSF ROOFS.

Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 129,826, dated July 23, 1872.

To all whom it may concern: I

Beit known that we, ISAAC HODGSON and WILLIAM H. BROWN, 'of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion fandStateof Indiana, have jointly invented certain new and useful Im} provements in Tile Covering and Construction of Fire-Proof Roofs, of which the following is aspecification:

Our invention relates to the construction of the covering for fire-proof'roofs; and the said inventionconsists of a new method of covering the roofs of building with tiles, glass, or other materials by'means of grooved and flanged rolled iron laths, to which the said tiles or other material are firmly secured at both their upper and lower ends, the object of said inventionbeing to construct a roof which is entirely fire-proof, perfectly secure against storms, rendered water-tight, and is comparatively'less expensive than hitherto constructed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a portion of a fire-proof tile roof embracing our invention. Fig. 2 represents a section of the same,

showing the method of securing the tiles to the metallic laths. Fig. 3 represents (on an enlarged scale) a section of one of the metallic laths and a portion of two courses of tile,

showing more clearly the manner of securing them to the. laths and Fig. 4 represents a cross-section through one of the perpendicular joints of two contiguous tiles, showing the man ner of rendering the joints water-tight.

General Description.

grooved and flanged at its upper edge for the reception of the tiles 0, which maybe of wellburned clay or other material, or, where necessary for the purpose of lighting, of glass, and

of such dlmensions as may be desired. D represents lugs cast upon the under side of the tiles 0, one near each edge of the same, and

near their lower ends, when deemed necessary. The projection forming the lugs may be continued throughout the length of the tiles, thereby adding to their strength. The lugs are for the purpose of securing the lower ends of the tiles to the lath B bycatching against and under the flange E. Fis atongue on the upper end of the tiles, the same being made to fit into the groove G of the lath B, and being firmly held-in positionby the flanges H and I. J are triangular ribs, cast one upon each edge of the tile on the upper side, and extending from the lower end of the tile to the shoulder of the tongue F. K is a triangular slot cast in the under side of the lower end of the tile 0 to receive the triangular ribs J aforesaid. L is a metallic saddle for making tight the perpendicular joints between tiles, the same being held in position by the wires M and the slot K.

The rolled laths B may be of any depth of section required, and according to the distance between supports, and may be riveted to rafters, or to the top chord of the rooftrusses direct, thereby obviating the necessity for rafters and purlins, the laths .being set at such distances between centers as that, when the tongue'F of the tile (3 is inserted in the groove Gr, between the flanges H and I, there will be just sufficient room for the lugs D to clear the flange E. The tiles 0 will then, of their own weight, slide down and firmly lock the lugs D under the flange E, and, in so doing, will leave the channel N across their upper ends. After laying the course through the said channel N may be filled with putty, plaster Paris, or other plastic material. The next course of tiles being proceeded .within like manner, the triangular groove P, crossing the under side of the tiles G,will be pressed down upon the plastic material in the channel N by the act of sliding into position the lugs D,

thus forming an effectual barrier to the backing of water. The saddle L may be made of sheet-copper, galvanized iron, or other material, and will be bent at an angle somewhat less than the angles formed by the junction of the ribs J, and will be made in length equal to the length of the said ribs. The upper end of the saddle is inserted in the space between the said ribs J and the slot K in "the lower end of the tiles 0. A copper-wire staple is then passed through openings in the saddle L made to receive it near its lower end, or at intervals where necessary, and through corresponding slots Q formed in the edges of the tiles for the purpose, and firmly twisted round a short piece of wire placed crosswise of the tile on the under side, thus drawing the edges of the saddle tight upon the tiles, forming a perfect water-joint. When necessary the edges of the tiles may be beveled slightly open at the top and close at the bottom, and the space between may be filled with putty, as at 0, before putting on the saddle L.

The advantages of this over other modes of roofing are, that the laths B may be applied directly to the trusses of the roof, thereby saving the cost of purlins and rafters, the distance between laths being only limited by the size at which the tiles can be conveniently burned, or glass or other material obtained. The tiles, being firmly held at both ends, cannot possibly be blown olf the roof. Sky-lights may be introduced in any part of a roof by having glass tiles of the same dimensions as the roofing-tiles, and working them in, after the same manner as the tiles, at such places as may be neceasary, the difference being scarcely perceptible.

Should a tile be broken from any cause, or should the gutters or valleys of the roof require renewing, the course of tile bordering upon the same may be entirely removed, new gutters inserted, and the tiles replaced with the greatest facility. The saddle L may be drawn so tightly, by twisting the wires M, as to render the passage of water through the joints between tiles practically impossible.

Having described our invention, we claim- 1. In a fire-proof tile roof, the rolled laths B, with the flanges R, E, I, and H, and the groove Gr, essentially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the lugs D of the tile, constructed as described, with the flange E of the metallic laths B, as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the tongue F and lug D of the tile 0 with the flanges H I E and groove G of the metallic laths B, as and for the purpose described.

4. The tile, secured at both ends by means of the flanges E,H, and I, the groove G, tongue F, and lug D, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The arrangement of the sealing-channel N between the shoulder of the groove K and the upper flange H of the metallic lath B, and beneath the channel 1?, as described, and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

ISAAC HODGSON, WILLIAM H. BROWN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR DAVIS, HARRY B. TAYLOR. 

